New Delhi

Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, on Thursday said artificial intelligence will play a decisive role in shaping the global economic balance, particularly between the Global North and the Global South.

Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Smith said the world today is marked by turbulence and fragmentation, with the deepest divide being economic. “That economic divide, more than anything else, is the result of a technological divide,” he said.

Smith noted that unequal access to basic infrastructure, including electricity, remains a major contributor to the technology gap across regions. He highlighted that millions of people around the world still lack reliable electricity, limiting their ability to participate in the digital and AI-driven economy.

“Now comes AI. Perhaps more than any other technology this century, it will play a bigger role either in closing this economic divide or exacerbating it further,” he said, underlining the stakes involved in how artificial intelligence is deployed globally.

Raising the issue of inclusion, Smith stressed the need for a more deliberate approach towards the Global South. “As we think about the role of AI in the Global South, how can we do better?” he asked.

He emphasised that bringing AI to developing regions would require robust foundations, including infrastructure such as data centres, computing capacity, connectivity and, crucially, access to electricity.

Earlier in the day, Narendra Modi delivered a strong message of technological optimism at the summit, asserting that while some countries view artificial intelligence with apprehension, India sees it as central to its future growth.

Addressing the gathering at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said, “While some see fear in AI, others see the future. I can say with utmost pride that India finds its future in Artificial Intelligence,” highlighting the nation’s proactive and confident approach to emerging technologies.

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PM Modi also underlined the unprecedented speed of technological change, calling on global stakeholders to ensure that AI development remains inclusive, human-centric and a force for shared prosperity.